MORRISTOWN, TN – No. 13 Walters State opened up their home slate of the 2024 schedule on Thursday with two sweeps. The Lady Senators won 3-0 (25-9, 25-13, 25-11) against Campbellsville University JV and 3-0 (25-6, 25-6, 25-8) against Bryan College JV.
With the wins, Walters State improved to 5-1 on the season.
"It's always good to play at home and come out with a couple of sweeps," Walters State coach Megan Blaylock said. "I thought we came out locked in from the start and kept our foot on the gas. Every player that saw the court played well. We'll keep working and get ready to go again on Saturday afternoon."
No. 13 Walters State 3, Campbellsville JV 0 (25-9, 25-13, 25-11)
In match number one of the day, Walters State made quick work of Campbellsville JV.
The Lady Senators started strong with the first four points of the opening set, Rylee Haynie recording a block and a kill during the run. The lead would only grow from there, as three kills by Alyssa Campbell made it 14-4.
With the score 15-5, Walters State scored the next five points to grow their advantage. During the spurt, Catherine Sweeney had a kill and two aces while Campbell and Lauren Mims had kills to make it 20-5. Mims and Finley Surber added kills to close out the set with a 25-9 win.
The second set was close to start as Campbellsville JV led 8-5. However, the Lady Senators got a block from Haynie and a kill by Annah Cate Hyatt to tie things back up. Campbellsville took one last lead at 9-8, but Walters State scored the next six points to charge ahead 14-9. Sweeney and Veda Barton each had a kill and a block, while Haynie recorded an ace.
Campbellsville broke the run with a point, but Mims recorded back-to-back kills before Emma Miller had back-to-back aces to make it 18-10. Hyatt had two kills after, including a kill on the final point to give the Lady Senators a 25-13 second set win.
The final set of the match started like the second set, with Campbellsville taking an early lead. Once again, Walters State took control though and back-to-back kills by Haynie and a kill by Surber gave them an 11-4 lead.
The Lady Senators advantage grew to 16-8, and Walters State capitalized on the big lead by scoring the next five points. Sweeney and Mims had kills to start the rally, and Olivia Brown had back-to-back aces to finish it.
From there, the result was never in doubt as Walters State grabbed a 25-11 third-set victory to clinch the match.
No. 13 Walters State 3, Bryan College JV 0 (25-6, 25-6, 25-8)
Walters State left no doubt in their final match of the day, cruising to the win over Bryan College JV.
The Lady Senators scored 11 of the first 12 points to start the opening set, as Surber had a couple of kills and Barton and Haynie had kills. Mims had two aces and served 12 straight points.
Bryan College scored twice to break the run, but Walters State got a kill from Barton, a kill from Sweeney and a kill and block from Campbell to make it 16-4. It was 21-5 after back-to-back aces by Sydney Bjornstad, and the Lady Senators closed things out from there 25-6.
The second set was much of the same, with Walters State scoring six straight points to start. Mims had two kills, while Hyatt had an ace.
Walters State kept adding to the lead after the quick start, getting it to 10-2 following an ace by Sweeney and 16-4 after an ace by Mykanna McMahon. One more ace from Bjornstad made it 24-6, and the Lady Senators got the final point after to take a second 25-6 set.
The final set saw Walters State jump out to a 6-2 lead thanks to kills by Campbell and Sweeney and an ace by Miller. Bryan College kept it close at 7-5, but Walters State built a 10-point lead at 18-8. The Lady Senators scored the final seven points from there and ended the set and match.
Up Next:
Walters State will be back in action on Saturday at home against Southwest Virginia. The match is set for 2 p.m.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics
